Cushioned bedpan



y 1959 R. WASHINGTON 2,886,827

CUSHIONED BEDPAN Filed Dec. 20, 1955 INVENTOR.

ROSE T TA WASHINGTON ATTD R N EYE 2,886,827 Patented May 1-9, 1959 This invention relates to surgical appliances and particularly bedpans such as used by patients in "reclining positions, and in particular a bedpan having a substantially hollow base with side walls having grooves in outer surfaces and spaced from the upper edges thereof, and a cover having an elongated Centrally positioned slot with flanges at the edges adapted to coact with grooves of the base and with a sponge rubber pad on the upper surface providing a comfortable rest for a patient.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a bedpan that is comfortable to use.

Various types of resilient pads and other devices have been provided for use in combination with bedpans and the like, however, where such devices are attached to bedpans it is difllcult to retain the devices in position on the pan and such devices, with the attaching means thereof, are difficult to clean. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a bedpan having a slidably mounted removable cover in which a foam rubber pad is provided on the cover wherein the cover is secured in position with tongues and grooves which eliminates the possibility of the cover being accidently misplaced in relation to the pan.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a bedpan whereby the pan may be used with comfort and wherein the parts are readily separable for cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for mounting a resilient pad on the upper surface of a bedpan whereby the pad is definitely secured in position for use and wherein the cover with the pad thereon may readily be removed for cleaning.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bedpan having an elongated centrally positioned opening therein with a U-shaped cover having a relatively soft resilient pad on the upper surface slidably mounted with tongues and grooves on the bedpan, and adapted to be readily removed for cleaning, and in which the bedpan is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a hollow substantially rectangularshaped bedpan having spaced longitudinally positioned sections forming the upper surface with a concave web connecting the surfaces and with longitudinally disposed grooves in side walls thereof and spaced downwardly from said flat surfaces, and a cover having flanges with tongues on lower edges depending from the sides and having a resilient pad of material such as foam rubber permanently secured to the upper surface and having a longitudinally disposed slot extended inwardly from one end.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating the improved bedpan.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the resilient pad 2 and cover which are adapted to be sli'clably mounted on the bedpan.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through one end of the bedpan being taken on line 3-'-3 of Fig. 2 and showing the cover mounted on the bedpan the forward portion of which is broken away.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the bedpan and cover being taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 6. p

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cover looking toward the under surface thereof.

. Figure 6 is a side elevatioiial view of the improved bedpan showing the cover positioned on the base, as the device is in use. 1

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the improved bedpan of this invention includes a hollow base 10', a cover 1 1 and a pad 12 of foam rubber or other suitable resilient l'naterial. I v

The base 10 includes a lower panel or bottom wall 13-, side walls 14 and 15, a rear end wall 16 and a forwardly disposed end wall 17 having a bulging section .18 there'- in and, as shown particularly in Fig. l the upper portion of the base is provided with longitudinally disposed top surfaces 19 and 20 and an arcuate concave web 21 connecting inner edges of the surfaces 19 and 20 and having downwardly inclined surfaces 22 and 23 extended forwardly from the web which surfaces coact with lips 24 and 25 which depend from inner edges of the cover 11.

The cover 11 is provided with a longitudinally disposed slot 26 that extends from the forward end 27 to a point 28 and the slot 26 is in registering relation with a similar slot 29 in the intermediate part of the resilient pad 12.

The sides of the cover 11 are provided with depending flanges 30 and 31 having tongues 32 and 33, respectively, which are positioned to register with grooves 34 in upper surfaces of the side walls 14 and 15 whereby the cover is adapted to slide over the base portion and, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5 the rear end of the cover is provided with a solid section 35, on the forward end of which is a projection 36 that is adapted to snap over the forward edge of the web 21 of the base section to secure the cover in position upon the base.

The projection or tab 36 prevents accidental displacement of the cover from the base, and flanges or cars 37 and 38 at the ends of the flanges 30 and 31 provide stops limiting forward movement of the cover on the base.

The lips 24 and 25 which extend forwardly of the section 35 of the cover provide a bulging section, as illustrated in Fig. 5, which enhances the comfort of the bedpan.

The resilient pad 12, which is preferably formed of foam rubber, is secured to the upper surfaces at the sides of the cover with adhesive or by other suitable means.

As illustrated in Fig. 6 a body or base portion of the bedpan is provided with an inclined upper surface which facilitates inserting the bedpan below a patient and which also makes it more convenient for a patient to slide upon the bedpan.

The soft sponge or foam rubber pad on the upper surface of the bedpan and also the general shape and design of the pan provides a comfortable device that is adapted to be used for bedridden patients and that is particularly adapted for use without disturbing the disposition of the patient.

It will be understood that the parts may readily be separated for cleaning and sterilizing and the parts may readily be assembled by an attendant, nurse, or the like.

It will be understood, that modifications, within the scope of the appended claim, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A bedpan comprisingan integral hollow base including a top surface, parallel side walls, a rear wall and a front wall; said top surface inclined upwardly from said rear wall to said front wall'and having longitudinally extending laterally spaced surfaces, an arcuate concave surface extending betweenthe rear of said top surfaces and downwardly inclined surfaces extending forwardly from said concave surface along the laterally spaced surfaces forming a longitudinally extending slot in the forward portion of said top surface; said side walls having longitudinally extending external grooves in the upper portion thereof; said rear wall having grooves adjacent to and aligned with the grooves of the side walls, and an arcute cut-out corresponding to the arcuate surface of said top surface; said front wall having a forwardly extending central portion; an integral cover having a longitudinally extending slot in the forward portion adapted to register with the slot in said top surface of the base, parallel inturned flanges depending from the sides of said cover adapted to slidably engage said grooves on said side walls of said base to permit sliding movement of said cover on said base, flanges depending from the rear of said cover adapted to engage the rear wall and grooves in said rear wall of said base to limit forward movement of said cover on said base, lips depending from said cover adjacent said slot and adapted to coact with said inclined surfaces of said top surface of said base, a solid section having an arcuate convex surface depending from the rear of said cover adapted to coact with said concave surface of said base, a projection at the forward portion of said solid section adapted to snap over the forward edge of said concave surface to latch said cover upon said base; and a resilient pad having a flat upper surface secured to said cover, and said pad having a slot registering with the slot in said cover.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 448,548 Schifferly Mar. 17, 1891 968,932 Gavin Aug. 30, 1910 1,445,836 Kowalsky Feb. 23, 1923 2,188,844 Pedersen Ian. 30, 1940 2,501,894 Eide Mar. 28, 1950 2,531,737 Lyon Nov. 28, 1950 2,534,286 Maitzen Dec. 19, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,073,229 France Mar. 17, 1954 

